Click through the slideshow to see how school lunches have evolved over the years.

Click through the slideshow to see how school lunches have evolved over the years.

Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle

Click through the slideshow to see how school lunches have... Photo-5795611.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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School lunches through the years

A little girl eating lunch outside at school in 1946. (Photo by Bernard Hoffman/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

School lunches through the years

A little girl eating lunch outside at school in 1946. (Photo by Bernard Hoffman/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Photo: Bernard Hoffman, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image

School lunches through the years A little girl eating lunch... Photo-4557482.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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Children eating lunch in the school cafeteria in 1948. (Photo by Bernard Hoffman//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Children eating lunch in the school cafeteria in 1948. (Photo by Bernard Hoffman//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Children eating lunch in the school cafeteria in 1948. (Photo by... Photo-4557486.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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Two school children, a boy and a girl, sit together as they eat lunch from metal lunchboxes, mid 1950s. The photo was taken as part of an advertising campaign for Nucoa Margarine. (Photo by Nickolas Muray/George Eastman House/Getty Images) less

Two school children, a boy and a girl, sit together as they eat lunch from metal lunchboxes, mid 1950s. The photo was taken as part of an advertising campaign for Nucoa Margarine. (Photo by Nickolas ... more

Two school children, a boy and a girl, sit together as they eat... Photo-4557487.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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High school students race to the lunch room during springtime in Clarksville, Arkansas. (1953). (Photo by Yale Joel//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

High school students race to the lunch room during springtime in Clarksville, Arkansas. (1953). (Photo by Yale Joel//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

High school students race to the lunch room during springtime in... Photo-4557488.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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Children having lunch in Bush Parkside School cafeteria, 1954. (Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Children having lunch in Bush Parkside School cafeteria, 1954. (Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Children having lunch in Bush Parkside School cafeteria, 1954.... Photo-4557489.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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circa 1950: Children at the Methodist 'Five Point Mission' kindergarten in New York having lunch. The school was one of the first to serve children hot lunches. (Photo by Orlando /Three Lions/Getty Images)

circa 1950: Children at the Methodist 'Five Point Mission' kindergarten in New York having lunch. The school was one of the first to serve children hot lunches. (Photo by Orlando /Three Lions/Getty Images)

A Type A school lunch as specified by the Department of Agriculture, with a protein food, fruits, vegetables, bread and butter, and milk, Washington DC, June 1, 1966.. (Photo by Underwood Archives/Getty Images)

A Type A school lunch as specified by the Department of Agriculture, with a protein food, fruits, vegetables, bread and butter, and milk, Washington DC, June 1, 1966.. (Photo by Underwood Archives/Getty Images)

A Type A school lunch as specified by the Department of... Photo-4557493.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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Gove Junior High School; Gove Students Jam into a Crowded Cafeteria; Gove has six lunch periods a day so its students can be accommodated in small lunchroom.; 1971 (Photo By Bill Peters/The Denver Post via Getty Images) less

Gove Junior High School; Gove Students Jam into a Crowded Cafeteria; Gove has six lunch periods a day so its students can be accommodated in small lunchroom.; 1971 (Photo By Bill Peters/The Denver Post via ... more

At the integrated Richards School, students having lunch in cafeteria, 1967. (Photo by Bill Eppridge//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

At the integrated Richards School, students having lunch in cafeteria, 1967. (Photo by Bill Eppridge//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

At the integrated Richards School, students having lunch in... Photo-4557500.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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1963 - Food is dished piping hot from the serving line at Lit-ítleton High School. The cafe-íteria serves about 800 stu-ídents a day. A first class lunch keeps appetites sharp. Efficient operation can serve 200 student in 10 minutes.; (Photo By Dave Mathias/The Denver Post via Getty Images) less

1963 - Food is dished piping hot from the serving line at Lit-ítleton High School. The cafe-íteria serves about 800 stu-ídents a day. A first class lunch keeps appetites sharp. Efficient operation can serve ... more

Children during their lunch period at a public school in New York City, May 1947. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Children during their lunch period at a public school in New York City, May 1947. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Children during their lunch period at a public school in New York... Photo-4557502.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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1982; Tommy Johnson, 7, eats a sandwich from the bag lunch he chose instead of the hot lunch offered in the cafeteria at Walnut Hills Elementary School. The bag lunches are part of a Cherry Creek School District pilot project.; (Photo By Dave Buresh/The Denver Post via Getty Images) less

1982; Tommy Johnson, 7, eats a sandwich from the bag lunch he chose instead of the hot lunch offered in the cafeteria at Walnut Hills Elementary School. The bag lunches are part of a Cherry Creek School ... more

Takoma Park Middle school students have the option of eating a regular hot lunch or buying, chips or other snacks on the side. Students eating cafeteria lunch at Takoma Park Middle school in Takoma Park, MD on January 31, 2013. Schools in Montgomery county still serve snack foods to students during lunch.
(Photo by Juana Arias for the Washington Post) less

Takoma Park Middle school students have the option of eating a regular hot lunch or buying, chips or other snacks on the side. Students eating cafeteria lunch at Takoma Park Middle school in Takoma Park, MD on ... more

Takoma Park Middle school students have the option of eating a... Photo-4557504.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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Students line up to receive food during lunch in the cafeteria at Bowie High School March 11, 2004 in Austin, Texas. The Austin School District is working to make their cafeteria offerings more healthy, but the most popular foods are still fried chicken strips, pizza, and french fries. Concern about increased levels of childhood obesity in the United States has made the food served in public schools cafeterias a much greater concern. (Photo by Jana Birchum/Getty Images) less

Students line up to receive food during lunch in the cafeteria at Bowie High School March 11, 2004 in Austin, Texas. The Austin School District is working to make their cafeteria offerings more healthy, but ... more

Students line up to receive food during lunch in the cafeteria at... Photo-4557505.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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A student eats lunch at Jones College Prep High School April 20, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Public School system will introduce next fall a new vending policy restricting junk food and a new beverage contract banning carbonated drinks. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images) less

A student eats lunch at Jones College Prep High School April 20, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Public School system will introduce next fall a new vending policy restricting junk food and a new ... more

A student eats lunch at Jones College Prep High School April 20,... Photo-4557506.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore gets his lunch from cafeteria worker Barbara Latta at Marie G. Davis Middle School during his 13 April, 2000, visit to the school in Charlotte, North Carolina. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read ERIK PEREL/AFP/Getty Images) less

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore gets his lunch from cafeteria worker Barbara Latta at Marie G. Davis Middle School during his 13 April, 2000, visit to the school in Charlotte, ... more

Children have lunch at Northwestern Elementary School 07 September 2005 in Zachary, Louisiana, where 75 children were accepted for the Fall 2005 school year after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. School districts around the US are taking in hundreds of thousands of children who need to get back to school since their own schools were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster in US history. AFP Photo/PAUL J. RICHARDS (Photo credit should read PAUL J.RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images) less

Children have lunch at Northwestern Elementary School 07 September 2005 in Zachary, Louisiana, where 75 children were accepted for the Fall 2005 school year after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. School ... more

Children have lunch at Northwestern Elementary School 07 September... Photo-4557508.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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A three entree elementary lunch lies on display in the Nettelhorst Elementary School lunchroom March 20, 2006 in Chicago, Illinois. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) stopped by the school to visit the new, pilot lunch program called, "Cool Foods," as part of the Healthy Schools Campaign. Nettelhorst is one of three Chicago public schools participating in the new lunch program offering salad bars as a new federal law, effective June 30, 2006, states that all schools must establish wellness policies. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images) less

A three entree elementary lunch lies on display in the Nettelhorst Elementary School lunchroom March 20, 2006 in Chicago, Illinois. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) stopped by the school to visit the new, pilot ... more

A three entree elementary lunch lies on display in the Nettelhorst... Photo-4557509.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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Nettelhorst Elementary School student, Alexia Kollar, selects food from a salad bar during lunch March 20, 2006 in Chicago, Illinois. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) stopped by the school to visit the new pilot lunch program called, "Cool Foods," part of the Healthy Schools Campaign. Nettelhorst is one of three Chicago public schools participating in the new lunch program offering salad bars as a new federal law, effective June 30, 2006, states that all schools must establish wellness policies. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images) less

Nettelhorst Elementary School student, Alexia Kollar, selects food from a salad bar during lunch March 20, 2006 in Chicago, Illinois. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) stopped by the school to visit the new pilot ... more

First-grader Brendan Eckenrode uses the fingerprint scanner to pay for lunch at Penn Cambria Pre-Primary School March 1, 2002 in Cresson, Pa. Penn Cambria is one of three school districts utilizing a biometric program from Food Service Solutions, in Altoona, PA that enables students to buy their lunch with their scanned fingerprints. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images) less

First-grader Brendan Eckenrode uses the fingerprint scanner to pay for lunch at Penn Cambria Pre-Primary School March 1, 2002 in Cresson, Pa. Penn Cambria is one of three school districts utilizing a biometric ... more

Francesca Virgilio, center, eats a salad during lunch at Sunset Park Elementary School in Miami, Florida, in 2012. The salad bar was introduced at the school to promote healthy eating habits. (Peter Andrew Bosch/Miami Herald/MCT) less

Francesca Virgilio, center, eats a salad during lunch at Sunset Park Elementary School in Miami, Florida, in 2012. The salad bar was introduced at the school to promote healthy eating habits. (Peter Andrew ... more

Braintree High School freshman have the campus to themselves on the first day of school, on Wednesday, September 1, 2010. According to Braintree food service director Megan Aardema, the lunch features healthier choices, ahead of the two-year deadline to comply with a new state nutrition law. (Photo by Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) less

Braintree High School freshman have the campus to themselves on the first day of school, on Wednesday, September 1, 2010. According to Braintree food service director Megan Aardema, the lunch features ... more

Braintree High School freshman have the campus to themselves on the... Photo-4557515.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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Pizza slices and french fries are seen as they are served during lunch at Everglades High School on November 18, 2011 in Miramar, Florida. Monday evening the United States Congress passed a spending bill with a provision that would allow schools to count pizza as a vegetable. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) less

Pizza slices and french fries are seen as they are served during lunch at Everglades High School on November 18, 2011 in Miramar, Florida. Monday evening the United States Congress passed a spending bill with a ... more

Pizza slices and french fries are seen as they are served during... Photo-4557516.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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Trac Dzuong munched away at his lunch of soft tacos with a side of vegetables and an orange in Boston in 2012.(Photo by Dina Rudick/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Trac Dzuong munched away at his lunch of soft tacos with a side of vegetables and an orange in Boston in 2012.(Photo by Dina Rudick/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Trac Dzuong munched away at his lunch of soft tacos with a side of... Photo-4557517.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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Students at Doherty Middle School get their healthy lunch at the school cafeteria, on June 18, 2012 in Andover, Massachusetts. The Andover public school district has been making a big effort to give their students healthy lunches to help combat obesity. Every day at this school students can get fresh vegetables and fruit from the salad bar, yogurt and healthy hot meals. (Photo by Melanie Stetson Freeman/The Christian Science Monitor via Getty Images) less

Students at Doherty Middle School get their healthy lunch at the school cafeteria, on June 18, 2012 in Andover, Massachusetts. The Andover public school district has been making a big effort to give their ... more

Students at Doherty Middle School get their healthy lunch at the... Photo-4557518.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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First grader Christina Muse takes a bite into a slice of pizza in the school cafeteria during lunch October 15, 2002 at North Hampton School in North Hampton, New Hampshire. North Hampton School has students from K through 8 and offer a balanced lunch menu everyday, some days even Dominos Pizza is even served. (Photo by Debbi Morello/Getty Images) less

First grader Christina Muse takes a bite into a slice of pizza in the school cafeteria during lunch October 15, 2002 at North Hampton School in North Hampton, New Hampshire. North Hampton School has students ... more

4th grade students of Wiggins School having lunch with low fat milk and vegetable with chicken nuggets in 2008. Hyoung Chang/ The Denver Post (Photo By Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

4th grade students of Wiggins School having lunch with low fat milk and vegetable with chicken nuggets in 2008. Hyoung Chang/ The Denver Post (Photo By Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

4th grade students of Wiggins School having lunch with low fat milk... Photo-4557522.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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US First Lady Michelle Obama serves a broccoli to children during a lunch at New Hampshire Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland on May 19, 2010. (YURI GRIPAS/AFP/Getty Images)

US First Lady Michelle Obama serves a broccoli to children during a lunch at New Hampshire Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland on May 19, 2010. (YURI GRIPAS/AFP/Getty Images)

US First Lady Michelle Obama serves a broccoli to children during a... Photo-4557523.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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The menu options at the Arapahoe Campus High School cafeteria on this day include roasted chicken, roasted potatoes, along with a fresh salad bar that included whole grain bread and fresh fruit. In 2010.

The menu options at the Arapahoe Campus High School cafeteria on this day include roasted chicken, roasted potatoes, along with a fresh salad bar that included whole grain bread and fresh fruit. In 2010.

The menu options at the Arapahoe Campus High School cafeteria on... Photo-4557524.61456 - Houston Chronicle

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Garden chili and bread, ( a cinnamon roll) along with cut up melon was on the lunch menu at Fairview Elementary School on this day in 2011. Vegetable cups, Italian subs, and turkey chef salads were also available to the students. Andy Cross, The Denver Post (Photo By Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images) less

Garden chili and bread, ( a cinnamon roll) along with cut up melon was on the lunch menu at Fairview Elementary School on this day in 2011. Vegetable cups, Italian subs, and turkey chef salads were also ... more